Pattern-cutting machine.



G. E. REED. PATTERN CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1911.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

3 SHBETS-SHEBT 1.

frwereir: wzw I 25655 coummm PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

O. E. REED.

PATTERN CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29,1911.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

U. E. REED.

PATTERN GUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.29, 1911.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

3 SHBBTS-SHBET 3.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES REED 82;COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PATTERN-CUTTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. REED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Pattern-Cutting Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements inpattern-cutting machines of the pantographic type employing apantographic frame equipped at one end with a stylus or tracer adaptedto be moved about the edge of a pattern-model for producing the travelin a path corresponding to the outline of the model, of a punchdevicesecured at another end of the pantograph frame and operating on a sheetof material from which the patterns are to be cut, a machine of thistype forming the subject of United States Reissue Letters Patent No.11,569, granted to me September 29, 1896; and my invention hasparticular reference to improvements in the means for holding the sheetsof flexible material during the operation of the punch-device upon themfor cutting therefrom the patterns to be made.

Owing to the mode of operation of machines of this general type, thesheet from which the patterns are to be out can be supported from oneend only, as supporting them otherwise would cause interference betweenthe punch-device and the sheet-clamps so employed. As the sheets aremore or less flexible, it is desirable, in order that they be heldrigidly, to clamp them at points as near as possible to the path whichthe punch-device follows in cutting the pattern, and to so construct theseveral clamps used for this purpose that they may be adjustedindependently of each other without disturbing the position of the sheetheld by the unadjusted clamps, so that, if, after the operation ofcutting the pattern is begun and a clamp is found to have been initiallyadjusted into the path of the punch-device, such clamps may be movedbackward with out destroying the partly cut pattern. Furthermore, it isdesirable that the clamps when initially positioned, preparatory to theclamping of the sheet, be undisturbed during the sheet-clampingoperation, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1911.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 617,696.

upon the sheet, or the position of the sheet u when readjustment of aclamp or clamps becomes necessary after the cutting of a pattern hascommenced.

Referring to the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 shows, by a plan view, aportion of a pantographic pattern-cutting machine such as that disclosedin the patent referred to, provided with sheet-clamping mechanismconstructed in accordance with my invention and showing a sheet ofpattern material in position to be operated upon by the punch-device.Fig. 2 is a section taken at the irregular line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewedin the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a section taken at the line 3on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is anenlarged section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 3; and Figs. 5 and 6,sections taken at the lines 5 and 6, respectively, on Fig. 4;.

A. portion of the frame of the pantographic pattern-cutting machineillustrated, and in connection with which I have chosen to illustrate myinvention, is represented at 7 and forms a support for a pantographicframe 8 which carries at one end a stylus or tracer, (not shown) adaptedto be moved in contact with the edges of a pattern represented at 9 andfixed on a table 10 carried by the frame 7 and at its other end thecooperating male and female members 11 and 12, respectively, of apunch-device, which in the operation of the machine is caused to travelin a path corresponding to the outline of the pattern-model 9 and punchthe pattern to be made from a sheet of material such as that representedat 13, which latter extends into the space between the members 11 and 12and is supported as hereinafter described, the construction abovedescribed and its mode of operation being well known in the art.

The means for clamping the sheet 13 to securely hold it in place duringthe patterncutting operation are formed of a plurality of clampingdevices, each of which comprises a pair of jaws let and 15, the jaws 1 1being fixed on the rear ends of stiff, parallel rods 16 slidablyconfined in bearings 17 formed on the under side of a table 18 connectedwith the frame 7 and held against rotation by keys 16 connected with therear bearings 17 and projecting into slots l6 extending longitudinallyof the rods 16; and

the aws 15 extending above their cooperating jaws 14 and carried by bars19 of spring metal which are connected with the forward ends of the rods16, the bars 19, owing to their inherent spring tension, tending to holdthe jaws 15 carried thereby in raised, and consequently open, condition.Extending above the bars 19 and transversely thereof is a bar 20 whichis rigidly connected at its ends to the frame 7, as by bolts 21, thisbar being equipped along its front side with pairs of spaced lugs 22, apair of which extends immediately above each of the rods 19,

these lugs forming bearings for a rock-shaft 1 23 provided with anoperating lever 24. 1

Journaled on the shaft 23 between the memthe lever 24 downwardly towardthe front bers of the pairs of lugs 22 are collars 25 provided withdepending bifurcated members 26 carrying shafts 27 eccentric of theshaft 23 and on which rollers 28, adapted to cooperate with thespring-bars 19 immediately below them, are journaled, each of thesecollars being provided with operating handles 29 for operating themindependently of each other.

The parts of the construction described are so related, as shown, as tocause the respective jaws 15 to be moved into rigid clamping engagementwith the sheet 13, as illustrated in Fig. 2, when the collars 25 areturned to the position represented in the figure last referred to, byreason of the engagement of the rollers 28 with the upper surfaces ofthe springbars 19 immediately below.

Cooperating with the rollers 25 are devices for releasably clutchingthese collars to the shaft 23 in order that all of the sheet-clampingdevices may be operated together for clamping or releasing the sheet, byoperating the handle 24, a description of the devices just referred tobeing as follows: Surrounding, and longitudinally movable on, the shaft23 between the pairs of lugs 22, are sleeves 30 which are feathered tothe shaft 23 as indicated at 31 and are formed with shouldered portions32 which serve as abutments for coil-springs 33 surrounding the shaftand bearing at their other ends against the faces of the adjacent lugs22, the spring 33 for the sleeve 30 at the right-hand end in Fig. 3bearing against a washer 3 1 on the shaft 23 instead of one of the lugs.The sleeves 30 are equipped with laterally-extending bifurcated members35, the arms of which are adapted to embrace adjacent levers 29 and bereleasably held in such position under the action of the springs 33.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The operator, assumingthat the jaws la and rollers 28 are in raised position and the arms ofthe bifurcated members 35 are straddling the adjacent levers 29,introduces the sheet 13 to be operated on between the cooperating jaws14k and 15, to a position in which the front end of the sheet lies uponthe table 18 and the rear, free edge, of the sheet extends into aposition to be operated on by the traveling punch-device. Afterpositioning the sheet as stated, the operator then slides the rods 16 intheir bearings, independently of each other, to a position in which thecooperating jaws 1A and 15 will extend as closely as possible to thepath in which the operator believes the punch-device will travel, itbeing desirable, when possible, to support the sheet by the clamps atits lateral edges as well as at its front end, as represented. Aftereach clamp has been adjusted, as described, the operator swings end ofthe machine thereby turning all of the collars 25 and the sleeves 30 tothe right in Fig. 4, with the result of swinging all of the rollers 28downwardly from the position represented by dotted lines in Fig. t tothe position represented in full lines therein, thus forcing theserollers against the bars 19 with which they cooperate and swinging thelatter to a position in which the sheet 13 is firmly clamped between thejaws 14 and 15, as represented in Fig. 2.

Should readjustment of any one or more of the sheet-clamping devicesbecome necessary for any reason after the operation of cutting thepattern has been commenced, as for example, should it be discovered thatone of the clamping devices was adjusted initially to a position inwhich it extends into the path of the punch-device, such interferingclamp or clamps may be readily readjusted without disturbing theposition of the sheet by first disengaging the jaw 14 of the clamp to beadjusted, thereupon moving the bar 16 of this clamp to the properreadjusted position and again clamping the jaws of this clamp againstthe sheet. Any one of the pairs of jaws 14 and 15 may be released fromthe sheet without disturbing the other jaws, by sliding the sleeve 30cooperating with the clamping device to be adjusted, to the right inFig. 3 against the resistance of its spring 33, thereby moving thebifurcated portion 35 of this member 30 out of engagement with thecoiiperating lever 29, thus permitting the operator to swing the lever29 upward to raise the roller 28 connected therewith for releasing thebar 19 immediately below it, whereupon the latter, and the adjusted asdesired, and when so readjusted, may be again clamped to the sheet byswingpivoted on said pivotally-supported member and operating to engagewith said clamping members for moving them into clamping position whensaid pivotally-supported member is turned in one direction, and meansfor releasably and separately clutching said roller-equipped members tosaid pivotallying the lever 29 of this clamp downwardly,

at the same time sliding the sleeve 30 006perating therewith to theright in Fig. 3, thus swinging the lever 28 connected with this lever,against the bar 19 below it, and forcing the jaw 15 carried by thelatter downwardly against the sheet, the member 30, operated as stated,when released from the grasp of the operator, sliding into engagement atits bifurcated portion with the lever 29 so operated.

When the sheet 13 is to be readjusted for presenting new portionsthereof to the punchdevice, the operator may release from the sheet allof the clamping devices by swinging the lever 24 upwardly to swing allof the rollers 28 to raised position, as represented in dotted lines inFig. 4, thus freeing the sheet and permitting it to be moved at will.When the sheet has been readjusted, as stated, the operator, by swingingthe lever 24 forwardly and downwardly, moves all of the rollers 28against the cooperating bars 19, thereby forcing the jaws 15 intoclampmg engagement with the sheet.

By employing rollers 28 rolling contact with the bars l9 is affordedwhich efiectually prevents shifting of the rods 16 in their bearingswhile the bars 19 connected therewith are being depressed for clampingthe jaws carried thereby against the sheet.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction ofsheet-clamping mechanism, I do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit my invention to such construction, as the same may be variouslyaltered and changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In amachine of the character set forth, the combination of a support, asheet-clamping device adjustably mounted on said support and formed of arigid clamp-bar and a cooperating yielding clamp-bar, and a piv otallysupported member carrying a roller journaled thereon eccentric of theaxis about which said last-named member rotates, said roller operating,when said last-named member is moved in one direction, to force saidyielding bar into clamping position.

2. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheet-clamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively movable sheet-clamping members, apivotally-supported member, roller-equipped members supported member,for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheetclamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively movable sheet-clamping members, apivotally-supported member, roller-equipped members pivoted on saidpivotally-supported member and operating to engage at their rollers withsaid clamping members for moving them to clamping position when saidpivotally-supported member is turned in one direction, and meansconnected with said pivotally-supported member for releasably andseparately clutching to the latter said roller-equipped members, for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheet-clamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively-movable sheet-clamping members, a rock-shaft,rollerequipped members pivotally supported on said rock-shaft andoperating to engage at their rollers with said clamping members formoving the latter to clamping position when said rock-shaft is turned inone direction, and means on said shaft for releasably and separatelyclutching said roller-equipped members to said shaft, for the purposeset forth.

5. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheet-clamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively movable sheet-clamping members, arock-shaft,members pivotally supported on said rock-shaft, rollersjournaled in said last-named members eccentric of the axis upon whichsaid members move and operating to engage with said clamping members formoving them to clamping position when said rockshaft is turned in onedirection, and means for releasably and separately clutching saidroller-equipped members to said rock-shaft, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of a support, sheet-clamprately clutching saidroller-equipped members to said pivotally-supported member, comprisingmembers clutched to said lastnamed member and movable into and out ofengagement with said roller-equipped members, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheet-clamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively-movable sheet-clamping members, a rock-shaft,rollerequipped members pivoted on said rock-shaft and operating toengage at their rollers with said clamping-members for moving the latterto clamping position when said rockshaft is turned in one direction, andmeans clutched to said rock-shaft and movable thereon into and out ofengagement with said roller-equipped members for releasably andseparately clutching said roller-equipped members to said shaft, for thepurpose set forth.

8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheet-clamping devices adjustably mounted on said supportand'each formed of relatively-movable sheet-clamping members, arock-shaft, rollerequipped members pivoted on said shaft and operatingto engage at their rollers with said clamping members for moving thelatter to clamping position when said rock-shaft is turned in onedirection, and sleeves clutched to, and longitudinally movable on, saidshaft and provided with means for releasably and separately clutchingsaid roller-equipped members to said shaft, for the purpose set forth.

9.. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheet-clamping devices adjustably mounted on said sup port andeach formed of relatively-movable sheet-clamping members,roller-equipped means for moving said members into clamping position,and means releasably connecting said roller-equipped means together, forthe purpose set forth.

10. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheetclamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relativelymovable sheet-clamping members adjustablymounted on said support, a pivotally supported member, roller-equippedmembersv pivoted on said pivotally supported member and operating toengage at their rollers with said clamping members for moving the latterto clamping position when said pivotally supported member is turned inone direction, means for releasably and separately clutching saidroller-equipped members to said pivotally supported member, comprisingmembers movable on said last-named member into, and out ofengagerection, and means for releasably and sepal ment with saidroller-equipped members,

and means tending to yieldingly force said clutching members intoclutching position, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheetclamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relativelymovable sheet-clamping members, a rockshaft,members pivoted on said rock-shaft and provided with rollers arrangedeccentric of the axis upon which said pivoted members move, said rollersoperating to engage with said clamping members for moving the latter toclamping position when sald shaft is turned in one direction, sleevesclutched to, and longitudinally movable on, said shaft and operating inone position to clutch said pivoted members to the shaft, and meanstending to hold said sleeves in clutching position, for the purpose setforth.

12. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheetclamping devices adj ustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively movable sheet-clamping members, a 1 pivotallysupported member, roller-equipped members provided with operating leversand pivoted on said pivotally supported member and operating to engageat their rollers with said clamping members for moving the latter toclamping position when said pivotally supported member is turned in onedirection, and members clutched to, and longitudinally movable on, saidpivotally supported member formed with bifurcated portions adapted, whensaid last-named members are in one position, to straddle said levers,for the purpose set forth.

13. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheetclamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of relatively movable sheet-clamping members, a pivot allysupported member, roller-equipped members provided with operating leversand pivoted on said pivotally supported member and operating to engageat their rollers with said clamping members for moving the latter toclamping position when said pivotally supported member is turned in onedirection, members clutched to, and longitudinally movable on, saidpivotally supported member formed with bifurcated portions adapted, whensaid last-named members are in one position, to straddle said levers,and spring-means for yieldingly holding said last-named members inengagement with said levers, for the purpose set forth.

14. Ina machine of the character set forth, the combination of asupport, sheetclamping devices adjustably mounted on said support andeach formed of a rigid clamp-bar and a cooperating yielding clamp-bar, apivotally supported member, roller-equipped means pivoted on saidpivotally supported member and operating to engage at their rollers Withsaid yielding clamp-bars for moving them to clamping position When saidpivotally supported member is turned in one direction, and

means for releasably and separately clutching said roller-equippedmembers to said 10 pivotally supported member, for the purpose setforth.

CHARLES E. REED. In presence of- J. G. 'ANDERsoN, R. A. SCHAEFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

